The Fula or Fulbe or Fulani (the latter being an Anglicisation of the word in their language, "Fulunicode|ɓe" [The letter "ɓ" is an implosive b sound. In the orthography for languages of Guinea (pre-1985), it was written bh, so one would have written "Fulbhe" instead of "Fulunicode|ɓe". Some people still use this spelling convention.] ) are an ethnic group of people spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa. The countries in Africa where they are present include Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, The Gambia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo, the Central African Republic, Ghana, Liberia, and as far as Sudan in the east. Fulas are not a majority in every country they live, but in Guinea they represent a plurality of the population (largest single group).

One person, many names

There are also many names (and spellings of the names) used in other languages to refer to the "Fulunicode|ɓe". Fulani in English is borrowed from the Hausa term. Fula, from Manding languages is also used in English, and sometimes spelled Fulah or Foulah. Fula and Fulani are commonly used in English, including within Africa. The French borrowed the Wolof term "Pël", which is variously spelled: Peul, Peulh, and even Peuhl. More recently the Fulfulde / Pulaar term "Fulunicode|ɓe", which is a plural noun (singular, "Pullo") has been adapted to English as Fulbe, which some people use. In Portuguese it's Fula or Futafula.

Related groups

A closely related group is the Tukolor (Toucouleur) in the central Senegal River valley. These people are often referred to together with "FulIPA|ɓe" of the region as "Haalpulaar'en" (Pulaar-speakers).

Fula society in some parts of West Africa features the "caste" divisions typical of the region. In Mali, for instance, those who are not ethnically Fula have been referred to as "yimIPA|ɓe pulaaku" (people of the Fula culture).Fact|date=October 2007

The WoIPA|ɗaaIPA|ɓe, also known as the Bororo, are a subgroup of the Fula people.

Traditional livelihood

The Fulani are traditionally a nomadic, pastoralist, trading people, herding cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry hinterlands of their domain, keeping somewhat separate from the local agricultural populations.

History

Origins and spread

While some have speculated over the origin of Fulani people, current linguistic and genetic evidence seems to suggest an indigenous West African origin among the Peul. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3659/is_200602/ai_n17186281/pg_4 mtDNA of Fulani Nomads and Their Genetic Relationships to Neighboring Sedentary Populations] ] The vast majority of genetic lineages associated with them reflect those most commonly seen in other west Africans. Their language is also of west African origin, most closely related to that of the Wolof and Serer ethnic groups. [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=90740] . Historical and archaeological records indicate that Peul-speakers have resided in western Africa since at least the 5th century A.D. as well. Interestingly, rock paintings in the Tassili-n-Ajjer suggests the presence of proto-Fulani cultural traits in the region by at least the fourth millennium B.C. Scholars specializing in Fulani culture believe that some of the imagery depicts rituals that are still practiced by contemporary Fulani people. [ [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/fula_2/hd_fula_2.htm The Fulani/Fulbe People | Thematic Essay | Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art ] ]

Rise to political dominance

Beginning as early as the 17th and 18th centuries, but mainly in the 19th century, Fulas and others took control of various states in West Africa.

These included the Fulani Empire founded by Usman dan Fodio (which itself included smaller states), Fouta Djallon, Massina and others.

Culture & Language

The language of Fulas is called Pulaar or Fulfulde depending on the region, or variants thereof. It is also the language of the Tukulor. All Senegalese who speak the language natively are known as the "Halpulaar" or "Haalpulaar'en", which stands for "speakers of Pulaar" ("hal" is the root of the Pulaar verb "haalugol", meaning "to speak"). In some areas, e.g. in northern Cameroon, Fulfulde is a local lingua franca.

The traditional dress of the Fula in most places consists of long colorful flowing robes, modestly embroidered or otherwise decorated. Also characteristic Fula tradition is that of women using Henna around the mouth, resulting in a blackening around the lips. Fula ethics are strictly governed by the notion of "pulaaku". [ [http://www.jamtan.com/jamtan/fulani.cfm?ch] ]

Fula are primarily known to be pastoralists, but are also traders in some areas. Most Fula in the countryside spend long times alone on foot, moving their herds; they were the only major migrating people of West Africa, though most Fula now live in towns or villages.

The Fula have a rich musical culture and play a variety of traditional instruments including drums, "hoddu" (a plucked skin-covered lute similar to a banjo) and "riti" or "riiti" (a one-string bowed instrument similar to a violin), in addition to vocal music. The well known Senegalese Fula popular musician Baaba Maal sings in Pulaar on his recordings.

Notable Fulani people by country

Nigeria

*Umaru Yar'Adua, current President of Nigeria.*Shehu Shagari, Former Nigeria President*Muhammadu Buhari, former Nigerian Head of State*Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria*Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Nigerian politician and the brother of current Nigerian president Umaru Yar'Adua*Nuhu Ribadu, respected, former Head of Nigerian Anti-corruption agency*Prof Jibril Aminu, Former minister of Education and Petroluem and a Senator in the Nigerian Parliament*Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigerian founding father and first prime minister

Fula — or Fulah noun (plural Fula or Fulas or Fulah or Fulahs) Date: 1799 1. a member of a mainly pastoral African people dispersed over savanna and desert from Senegal to eastern Sudan 2. the language of the Fula people … New Collegiate Dictionary

Fula orthographies — The Fula language is written mainly in a modified Latin alphabet today, but was and still is in some places written in a modified Arabic alphabet called Ajami script .Latin based orthographiesBackgroundThe Latin alphabet was introduced to Fula… … Wikipedia

Fula — [ fu:lə] noun the language of the Fulani people, belonging to the Benue Congo language family and widely used in West Africa as a lingua franca. Origin from Fula pulo Fula person … English new terms dictionary

Fula — noun 1. a member of a pastoral and nomadic people of western Africa; they are traditionally cattle herders of Muslim faith • Syn: ↑Fulani, ↑Fulah, ↑Fellata, ↑Fulbe • Hypernyms: ↑African 2. a family of languages of the Fulani of West Africa and… … Useful english dictionary

Zarma people — Djerma redirects here. For the commune in Algeria, see Djerma, Algeria. Zarma Young girls wearing traditional Zabarma dress Total population 3,459,000 Regions with significant populations … Wikipedia

Mandinka people — Not to be confused with Mandé. See also: Mandingo people of Sierra Leone The Mandinka … Wikipedia

Serer people — ethnic group group=Serer caption=A Serer mother and children in a rural village in Siné Saloum, Senegal. While such places maintain traditional Serer culture, many Serer people now live in urban areas or in the diaspora. poptime=Over 1.18 million … Wikipedia